CityLightBuzz: Mahabalipuram, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu participated in the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting held in Mahabalipuram under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Chief Ministers and representatives from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry attended the meeting.
Addressing the council, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu highlighted the need for greater cooperation and coordination among southern states to accelerate regional development. He said that mutual trust and cooperation between the Centre and the states would help resolve long-pending issues and promote balanced development.
Bullet Train Corridor Connecting AP, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Chandrababu proposed the development of a bullet train corridor connecting Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He specifically suggested that the high-speed rail route should pass through Kuppam, connecting Amaravati, Bengaluru and Chennai through an integrated transportation network.
He also proposed establishing a common logistics network and dry ports across southern states to strengthen trade, transportation and industrial connectivity.
Southern Power Grid and Skill Development
The Chief Minister suggested linking the Southern electricity grid with the National Grid to improve power management and reliability.
He also proposed creating a joint consortium of universities and skill-development institutions across southern states to promote higher education, innovation, research and employment-oriented skill development.
For disaster management, Chandrababu proposed establishing a Mutual Aid Force among southern states so that states could assist one another during natural
disasters and emergencies. Spiritual Tourism Circuit
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also proposed creating a common spiritual tourism circuit connecting Tirupati with Kashi, Ayodhya and the Char Dham pilgrimage centres.He said that coordinated efforts among states could significantly strengthen religious and cultural tourism while creating new economic opportunities.
South India’s Role in India’s Economic Growth
Chandrababu highlighted the economic importance of southern India, stating that the southern states contribute approximately 31% of India’s GDP.
He expressed confidence that the combined economy of the southern states could reach around $10 trillion by 2047, and said South India should emerge as a major economic engine in the development of Viksit Bharat.
Pending Reorganisation Issues
The Chief Minister also raised several issues related to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. He pointed out that institutions listed under Schedules IX and X of the Act have remained unresolved for nearly 12 years.
He urged the Centre to accelerate the resolution of pending bifurcation-related issues.
Chandrababu said that projects such as Polavaram, the South Coast Railway Zone and Amaravati are progressing with the support of the Central government. He also highlighted that Amaravati has secured its statutory status as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
He sought solutions to issues related to resource deficits and Section 56 and requested faster approvals for the proposed Duggarajapatnam Port and refinery projects. Metro Rail and Railway Projects
The Chief Minister requested Central approval for the Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada Metro Rail projects. He also sought approval for the Kadapa JSW railway link to improve connectivity and support industrial development.
Godavari–Cauvery River Linking
One of the major issues raised by Chandrababu was interlinking of rivers.
He proposed a Godavari–Cauvery river-linking project that could potentially divert more than 500 TMC of water. He said the project could provide a long-term solution to water shortages in Tamil Nadu.
He called for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to coordinate closely on river-water management. Chandrababu also stressed the need for a long-term national plan for Ganga–Cauvery river interlinking and called for time-bound DPRs and approvals for river-linking projects.
Southern States Praise Chandrababu’s Vision
Chandrababu expressed his wishes for the successful conduct of the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting and emphasised that cooperation and coordination among the southern states are essential for achieving comprehensive regional development.
The Chief Ministers of the southern states reportedly appreciated Chandrababu Naidu’s address and his vision for the integrated development of South India.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar praised Chandrababu as a senior leader who spoke with a broad vision about the development of all southern states.The meeting focused on strengthening Centre–state cooperation, infrastructure, connectivity, water management, power, logistics, education, disaster management and economic growth, with the broader objective of accelerating the development of South India.
